Praises to the Lord!

Yesterday we finally found a church matching nearly all of our desires. Since no church is perfect, we are pretty sure that this is the one!

The worship was awesome, the guest pastor was great (the actual pastor was home; very sick. :(), they have small groups, etc.

After last week (wow, a "claimed" reformed church with a female pastor), we were so thankful to find like-minded believers. When we first got there, the numbers were slim, but since we were early it soon became quite full. This is awesome for an area like Seattle.

We sang very worshipful songs (with instruments, unlike our 2nd church), we took communion (and will every week, awesome!), and we did Scripture/confessional recitation, which I have missed.

There are several small groups all around the city, so we will go to one of those this week, based on when I get off work. Some are at 6, while some meet at 7:30. And if none of those work, we can always do Sundays. However, we would greatly prefer to spread out the joy during the week. :)

Also, they have a food ministry with the homeless, women's Bible studies, and overall, we were just pleased to have opportunities to serve side by side with fellow Christians OUTSIDE of the church building. Not saying that we survive based on works (so not true!), but where there is faith, works will follow. We have missed serving others with Christian brothers and sisters, and we are excited to see what happens at this new church.

PRAISE BE TO GOD! WE LIFT UP OUR HEARTS TO HIM!

In other news, this morning I will begin my new job. I will be in training and a "floater" for an unknown period of time. This actually sounds quite nice to me. Having too many responsibilities for the past couple of years has been exhausting. I will be happy to do what others request for awhile while they decide with whom I will teach. :)

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My husband and I are enjoying our friend S (from Taiwan) so much. . .I am so thankful that even though God has asked me to be patient and wait to return to where I left my heart 4 years ago, that He is now allowing friends FROM where I left my heart to come to us. God knows exactly what I need, as well as what my husband and I need. We are practicing our Chinese in hopes that S can help us pick out what language program will be the best. Each area (i.e. southern Taiwan vs. northern Taiwan, Taiwan vs. China, etc.) all speak with different Chinese accents, much like people in different areas of the USA do. Hence, we need a program that speaks like the people from Taiwan. Learning a tonal language is difficult enough; we do not need any more hurdles to cross. :)

I have had a wonderful summer. Spending time with people back in GA, exploring our new city, enjoying exploring even more and being a tour guide for S. . .such a very blessed summer.

I'm off to get ready for work!

"Home"

Well, this morning we will try our 4th church here in the area. . .we are praying to find our new "home." We miss our home back in GA. We miss our family there. Here, going from church to church each Sunday with no roots, reminds me of being a freshman in college. Everyone always tried lots of different churches "just to make sure" I only went to two different churches, once a piece, after going to home. Home was the first church I went to after moving away to college. Home is where I have been since 2003.

A few notes on the word "home:"

1. I am not talking about a house in which I lived

2. I am talking about a body of believers with which I had great fellowship. I am talking about family. Home is where your family is.

3. Right now, our family is far away back in GA. We miss them greatly, and they are still in our hearts and on our minds.

4. Home can be expanded. People want to say, "don't forget where you come from." Well, I believe that since home is a people-group for me, your home can only grow larger.

5. I think building a larger home is what God wants. He doesn't just want a two person home. He wants a home with lots of colors, lots of faces, lots of DIFFERENCES.

6. If our home is only made up of one color, it's too much. We need to paint. I'm not saying that we have to run out and force ourselves on people. No. That is wrong. I am saying that we need to expand our vision of what God wants in a home. I know that God likes colors. Browns, greens, . . .even pinks and purples! Maybe some polka dots.


I have many soapboxes, this is just one of them. But I write all of this to say that we pray that this 4th church will be a place that we can expand our home. Right now, I have my husband and one of my favorite people from Taiwan here (i.e. close enough to touch). I'm ready to expand, to study God's word, to continue growing with some new editions to the home.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise Him all creatures here below,

Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts,

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. . . .

Amen.


Thank you Lord. This is something to keep faith and worship simple. Recognition that the Lord, all 3 parts, are to be praised, worshipped, & adored. All that is good comes from God. God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. That means that whether or not I recognize certain things as good, they ARE good. I do not even recognize all of the GOOD that is being done for me. That is amazing!!


Another simple song I remember singing in Sweden. It was a song/prayer. . .something a friend there sang with her children before each meal. Yes, we sang it in English. :)

Thank you Lord, for giving us food,

Thank you Lord, for giving us food,

Thank you Lord, for giving us food,

Right where we are....

Sing hallelujah, praise the Lord,

Sing hallelujah, praise the Lord,

Sing hallelujah, praise the Lord,

Right where we are....


1. God provides, no matter where you are. You are His child. You will not be forgotten.

2. God can and should be praised all the time, no matter where you are. Whether it's "Thanks God for this parking space," or "Thanks God for healing my friend with cancer."



Faith doesn't have to be complex. . .in fact, it shouldn't be. Why do we keep making things complicated? We like to work for/to God. Sadly, that's now how it works and it wastes so much time!! God made faith easy enough for a child to understand . . .let's keep it that way.

Thank you Lord

Thank you Lord

1. For my husband

2. For this day

3. For letting a friend get here from overseas safely to stay with us!

4. For making the loud trucks quieter

5. For cooler weather

6. For the job I start Monday

7. For kids

8. For parks and trees. . .and all other green areas!

9. For fun times

10. For mail


Thank you Lord for being faithful to me even when I am not faithful to You. Thank you for answering our prayers. I pray now that you would allow us to find a new church home that is not extreme in any way!! No female pastors, no monotonous tones, . . .help us please now!

Psalm 25: Hope & ACTION

Psalm 25


1[a] To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;

2 in you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

3 No one whose hope is in you
will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.

4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;

5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.

7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.

10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13 He will spend his days in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.

14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.

15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.

17 The troubles of my heart have multiplied;
free me from my anguish.

18 Look upon my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins.

19 See how my enemies have increased
and how fiercely they hate me!

20 Guard my life and rescue me;
let me not be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.

21 May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope is in you.

22 Redeem Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!

At last. . .

HOME.

Everything is done. We are about to go downtown and enjoy our first day "off" since getting here. The place looks great; the husband did an excellent job getting all the pictures up! :)

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